Head of Data Engineering and Infrastructure

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to join a friendly and ambitious team who are always finding new ways to drive better use of data, right in the heart of central government? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The NISTA Data & Insight Team brings together data scientists, engineers, analysts and digital professionals who genuinely care about learning from each other, sharing ideas and making things happen. Together we turn rich, high-value project data into analysis, insights and tools that support people across government, from project delivery teams to senior leaders in HMT, the Cabinet Office and No10, to make decisions that shape how the UK delivers its biggest and most complex projects.

Working with the Government Major Projects Portfolio, the 10-year Infrastructure Pipeline and other project delivery data, your work will directly influence how major programmes are planned, delivered and improved.

Over the last two years, the team has undergone a significant transformation, digitising large-scale project data collection and overhauling our digital and data infrastructure. This enables us to create high-impact dashboards and analytics as well as drive the development of AI tools. It means we can develop and share quickly, resulting in rapid iterative development with our users. And we continue to evolve, improve our capability and develop our skills.

You’ll be joining a supportive, inclusive and collaborative environment, where you can grow your skills, tackle meaningful challenges and make a real impact on the future of government delivery.

• Design, build and evolve secure, well‑governed cloud data platforms and pipelines that reliably support complex analytical and operational needs.
• Provide strong technical leadership to the team, including setting direction, reviewing critical code, mentoring engineers and upholding high engineering standards.
• Define and enforce standards for data engineering, pipeline development and deployment to ensure platforms are scalable, maintainable and safe to change.
• Take hands‑on ownership of the most complex or high‑risk areas of the data platform to resolve issues, improve performance and reduce operational risk. This includes being fully across potential data security risks.
• Work closely with analysts, data scientists and infrastructure colleagues to shape robust technical designs that enable high‑quality analysis and insight.
• Act as a trusted technical adviser to senior stakeholders, clearly explaining options, risks and trade‑offs relating to data infrastructure, security and compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement in data services, improving quality, resilience and user experience for users and cross‑government partners.
• Design and create accessible data engineering solutions that can be utilised and understood by the wider team of analysts and scientists
• Build a high‑performing, motivated team by fostering a culture of learning, experimentation and professionalism, and by being an effective, supportive line manager.

This role requires someone who can operate at pace across strategy and delivery, leading by example through hands on technical expertise while developing others and enabling the organisation to make effective, responsible use of modern data engineering by clearly explaining technical risks, options and trade‑offs to senior stakeholders.

• Generous Annual Leave – 25 days (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus public holidays and the King’s birthday.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme – Defined Benefit pension with employer contributions of 28%
• Parental Leave Packages – Including 6 months’ occupational pay for maternity/adoption, shared parental leave options.
• Flexible & Hybrid Working – Options include part-time, job-share, compressed hours, flexitime, and hybrid working (where business needs allow).
• Advance Schemes & Discounts – Rental deposit, cycle-to-work, Smart Tech, season ticket loans, and access to HM Treasury’s benefits portal for a wide range of discount codes.

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the recruitment team at hrr